Double acting slide switch assembly with telescopically arranged housings and normally centered movable contact

ABSTRACT

Switch means of the double-acting type including a pair of telescopic housing sections a first one of which includes a longitudinally extending guide rod supported by a pair of stationary contacts. A movable contact is mounted in mutually insulated relation on the guide rod, said movable contact being connected with the other housing section, whereby when the sections are displaced relative to each other, the movable contact is brought into electrical contact with the stationary contact. Spring means bias the housing sections toward a given position relative to each other.

United States Patent 1 Moen [451 Feb. 18, 1975 DOUBLE ACTING SLIDESWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH TELESCOPICALLY ARRANGED HOUSINGS AND NORMALLYCENTERED MOVABLE CONTACT [76] Inventor: George A. Moen, Spenard,

Anchorage, Alaska 99503 [22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.:350,541

[52] US. Cl 200/153 K, 200/85 R, 200/16 A, 200/161, 200/298 [51] Int.Cl. 1101b 15/06, H01h 17/00 [58] Field of Search 340/421, 283, 273;200/1R,1V,14,l6 R, 16 A, 17 R, 18, 33

D, 47, 41, 61.58 R, 61.89, 61.93, 85 R, 153

F, 161, 163, 165, 298, 303, 153 K, 51 R;

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,305,963 6/1919 Dickerson200/16 A 1,598,932 9/1926 Pettus 2,459,015 l/l949 Clement 2,706,7554/1955 Krasno 200/85 R 2,727,964 12/1955 Krenke 200/153 K 3,166,6451/1965 Shlesinger, Jr 200/161 X 3,341,843 9/1967 Walsh 340/421 3,559,2041/1971 Dashper 200/85 X 3,594,773 7/1971 Conkle 340/421 X 3,703,62011/1972 Watanabe 200/161 3,778,808 12/1973 Stevens 200/85 R PrimaryExaminer-James R. Scott Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lawrence E. Laubscher[57] ABSTRACT 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIED FEB 1 8 am SHEET 10F2 Fig.

PATENIEB FEB I 819. 5

SHEET 2 OF 2 I I I ll DOUBLE ACTING SLIDE SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITHTELESCOPICALLY ARRANGED HOUSINGS AND NORMALLY CENTERED MOVABLE CONTACTThis invention relates to improved double-acting switch means for use inwarning systems and the like, including a pair of open ended box-shapedsections that are telescopically arranged for movement relative to eachother to actuate the switch means, and thereby activate alarm bells,horns or audible warning devices.

One problem which arises in the known doubleacting switch means is thedifficulty in properly orienting the movable contact relative to thestationary contacts in order to achieve the desired positive switchingaction during movement of the switch operator. The present invention wasdeveloped to avoid the above and other drawbacks of the known devices.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide animproved double-acting switch construction wherein a pair of relativelymovable housing sections carry the stationary and movable switchcontacts, respectively. A longitudinally extending conductive guide rodis provided which is connected at each end with one housing section by apair of stationary switch contacts. A movable switch contact is slidablymounted in electrically insulated relation on the guide rod by a pair ofhanger means that are arranged on opposite sides of the guide rod forconnection with the ends of the movable switch contact, said hangermeans being connected with the other housing section. Consequently, whenthe telescopic sections are displaced in either sense relative to eachother, the movable contact is brought into electrical engagement withone of the stationary contacts, said stationary contacts beingelectrically connected via said guide rod.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma study of the following specification when viewed in the light of theaccompanying drawing, in which the single FIGURE of drawing is alongitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the switch apparatus includes a pair oftelescopic sections 1, 2, the inner one of which includes a pair ofstationary contacts 6 that support a longitudinally extending guide rod7 to one end of which are connected the leads 3 and 4 of a suitableelectrically-operated warning device, not shown. A movable contact plate8 contains an opening which receives the guide rod and is electricallyinsulated therefrom by the insulating washers 8a, The ends of themovable contact plate are connected with the housing section 1 by thehanger members 9 arranged on opposite sides of the guide rod, wherebythe movable member is accurately supported in transverse relationship tothe guide rod 7 throughout the double-acting movement of the housingsections. The movable contact is connected with the supply leads 16 ofthe power source.

In order to permit accurate adjustment of the movable contact relativeto the guide rod, the hangers may be formed of variable length sectionsthe lengths of which may be adjusted by the adjusting screws 11. Springmeans 13 connected between the hangers 9 and the end wall 14 of thefirst section bias the sections toward the illustrated neutral position,which may be externally indicated by the mark 5.

In operation, when the housing sections are displaced toward each other,the springs 13 are compressed, and movable contact 8 is brought intoelectrical engagement with the lower stationary contact 6, whereby inputlead 16 is directly electrically connected with the leads 3 and 4 of thewarning device. If the sections are displaced in the opposite sense, thecoil springs are tensioned and movable contact 8 engages the upperstationary contact 6, whereby the supply leads 16 are connected with theleads 3 and 4 via guide rod 7 and both stationary contacts.

I claim:

1. Double-acting switch means for an electrical warning device,comprising a. a pair of telescopic housing sections (1, 2) connected foraxial displacement relative to each other;

b. a conductive guide rod (7);

c. a pair of stationary contacts (6) connected with the ends of saidguide rod, respectively, for supporting said guide rod in axiallyarranged relation within a first one of said sections;

d. a movable contact (8) arranged for movement be tween said stationarycontacts;

e. hanger means (9) connecting said movable contact with the other ofsaid sections, whereby as said housing sections are axially displacedbetween predetermined positions relative to each other, said movablecontact is brought into direct electrical contact with one of saidstationary contacts and into electrical connection with the other ofsaid stationary contacts via said guide rod; and

f. spring means (13) biasing said sections toward a given positionrelative to each other.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said movable contactcomprises a plate arranged normal to said guide rod and containing anopening through which said guide rod extends; and means (8a)electrically insulating said movable contact from guide rod.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said hanger means comprisesa pair of hangers (9) arranged on opposite sides of said rod forconnecting the ends of said plate with said other housing section.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and further including means (11) foradjusting the lengths of said hangers and thereby the position of saidmovable contact relative to said stationary contacts when said housingsections are in the given position.

1. Double-acting switch means for an electrical warning device,comprising a. a pair of telescopic housing sections (1, 2) connected foraxial displacement relative to each other; b. a conductive guide rod(7); c. a pair of stationary contacts (6) connected with the ends ofsaid guide rod, respectively, for supporting said guide rod in axiallyarranged relation within a first one of said sections; d. a movablecontact (8) arranged for movement between said stationary contacts; e.hanger means (9) connecting said movable contact with the other of saidsections, whereby as said housing sections are axially displaced betweenpredetermined positions relative to each other, said movable contact isbrought into direct electrical contact with one of said stationarycontacts and into electrical connection with the other of saidstationary contacts via said guide rod; and f. spring means (13) biasingsaid sections toward a given position relative to each other. 2.Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said movable contact comprisesa plate arranged normal to said guide rod and containing an openingthrough which said guide rod extends; and means (8a) electricallyinsulating said movable contact from guide rod.
 3. Apparatus as definedin claim 2, wherein said hanger means comprises a pair of hangers (9)arranged on opposite sides of said rod for connecting the ends of saidplate with said other housing section.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim3, and further including means (11) for adjusting the lengths of saidhangers and thereby the position of said movable contact relative tosaid stationary contacts when said housing sections are in the givenposition.